Infertility is a condition which results in an abnormal function of either the male or female reproductive system. It can be defined as the inability of a woman to fall pregnant after one year of having unprotected intercourse. It is imperative to note that women need functioning fallopian tubes, ovaries, and a uterus so as to carry a pregnancy. The conditions affecting any one of these organs can result in female fertility. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), about seven and a half million women have ever received any infertility services during their lifetime.

If you are an individual who’ve been experiencing difficulty to conceive for a while, then probably you might have tried to use a particular medication to help you fall pregnant. One such infertility drug currently touted as a wonder-drug is Clomid. If you didn’t know, this drug typically encourages the production of the eggs, and might potentially boost your chances of conceiving. So does clomid really work? And what kind of side effects can you expect taking clomid? Peruse through the following article to find out all about this fertility drug.

What is Clomid?

Also known as Clomiphene Citrate, this is a medication used to help women experience a timed ovulation. Typically, it is an estrogen-like hormone which specifically acts on the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the ovary so as to boost the levels the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH), which are vital for the process of ovulation. Its action is mainly intended to aid in the production of one or more eggs in a cycle. It is available in pill form and is administered at a particular point in a woman’ cycle, and its function is to stimulate ovulation.

This amazing drug can be helpful for those willing to get pregnant but have one of the problems listed below:

Unpredictable Ovulation: It is often not quite easy for a woman to get pregnant when her cycles are irregular and cannot tell when her next ovulation will occur. As such, Clomid might be used to produce a predictable and a dynamic ovulatory response, and this may allow for a timed intercourse.

Male factor infertility issues: In instances where there are issues with your partner’s semen quality, doctors typically recommend Intrauterine Insemination to help maximize the probability of conception. Clomid may be used to help enhance the timing of the inseminations with the ovulation cycles of a woman.

How Does Clomid Work?

It is crucial to note that the primary role of this particular drug is to jump start the process of ovulation in a woman who is having trouble ovulating on her own. Clomid is effective at inducing ovulation in women. In fact, when a woman’s only problem is a lack of regular ovulation then many health professionals often recommend the use Clomid. When used correctly, it is believed that you’ll get pregnant within four to six months of beginning your treatment.

Clomid has the same structure to that of the estrogen hormone. To be more precise, this drug works by attaching itself to the estrogen receptor sites in a woman’s brain. It inhibits the action of estrogen, a phenomenon that causes the body to naturally increase the levels of other two vital hormones which control ovulation thus triggering your ovaries. The first hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSC) regulates the ripening of the eggs in the ovary. The second one, luteinizing hormone (LH), works by triggering the release of the egg into the fallopian tubes. This, in turn, will accelerate ovulation.

What Does Clomid Do?

Simply put, Clomid tricks a woman’s system into an early ovulation when it wouldn’t before. On most occasions, when you start taking this medication, your estrogen levels double or can even triple what you had before your treatment.

It is worth noting Clomid might also be effective when used for other fertility problems as well. A significant number of patients have been successful using it irregular periods and for luteal phase defect as well. If it is difficult for you to conceive, then it’s possible that something known as a luteal phase defect is playing a key role. If you didn’t know, this is a condition which disrupts your normal menstrual cycle. It is one stage of your menstrual cycle. It happens after ovulation when your ovaries release an egg and perhaps before your periods. During this time, the lining of the uterus becomes thicker to prepare for a possible pregnancy. When you are suffering from this condition, the lining of your tube doesn’t properly grow as time goes. As a result, you’ll have problems both becoming pregnant and sustaining a pregnancy.

How Effective is Clomid?

The primary goal of treatment involving Clomid is to induce or normalize ovulation by taking an appropriate dose, as prescribed by your doctor on days three through to seven of your menstrual cycle. Some studies have been conducted regarding the success rates of Clomid treatment and have proven that:

Seventy to eighty percent patients eventually ovulate on Clomid.

Thirty-six to forty percent women finally achieved pregnancy.

Thirty percent of patients gave birth.

It is worth noting that the birth rate is significantly lower than the pregnancy rate perhaps due to cases of miscarriages. However, Clomid doesn’t seem to raise your risk to miscarriages. Individual studies have reported pregnancy success to be between forty to forty-eight percent when using Clomid.

This drug may not be the magic medication that most people mistake it to be. Yes, it works extremely well in the right circumstances, but it may not be successful in the wrong situations. For instance, if there are other underlying problems besides either absent or irregular ovulation or even male factor infertility issues which have been not addressed, evidently, the rates of success will be very low.

Clomiphene Side Effects

About one in every ten women usually experience Clomid side effects. However, for the most part, Clomid is often very well tolerated. Bearing in mind that it is administered orally, it is not either invasive or painful to take. Some of these side effects mimic the pregnancy symptoms and include:

Hot flushes.

Blurred vision.

Vomiting and Nausea.

Fatigue.

Weight gain.

Breast tenderness.

Headaches.

Bloating.

Though on very rare occasions, studies have revealed that when using Clomid, there is an eight-percent probability of having a multiple pregnancy. However, this phenomenon might be prevented by possibly adjusting your dose. The doctor’s advice is therefore needed.

The Bottom Line

Without a doubt, Clomid is currently one of the most effective drugs for fertility on the market. But, before opting to use it, it is advisable that both you and your partner’s fertility is examined first by a qualified doctor, so as to ensure that there are no problems with low sperm count and perhaps a blocked fallopian tube. Overall, this is a promising treatment for infertility that is worth considering.